'Utter callousness': William Arnold sentenced to 17 years after death of Hailey Hall

Rhonda Bird testifies about the last time she spoke to her daughter, Hailey Hall, 16, who was beaten, during William Arnold's murder trial for the murder of Hailey Hall at Hamilton County Courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Arnold is charged with murder, kidnapping, abduction, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in Hailey's death.(Photo: Enquirer/Albert Cesare)

Hailey, then only 16, was severely beaten in Feb. 2016. She and Arnold were at an East End nightclub. Prosecutors said he beat her inside his BMW, slamming her head against the dash. Arnold said she was jumped by a group of girls in the club's parking lot.

Regardless of who attacked Hailey, Arnold didn't call 911 and he didn't immediately take her to the hospital. He drove her back to the hotel. He kept her there for hours before carrying her back to the car the next morning. Then, he only took her to the emergency room after making a number of drug sales.

Arnold is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for dealing heroin.

"I feel my daughter was treated like an animal, worse than an animal," Byrd said in court. "I feel like if he gets out again, he's going to kill someone with his fists or kill someone with the drugs he sells."

William Arnold, 36, who is on trial for the murder of 16-year-old Hailey Hall, looks on during opening statements at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Arnold is charged with murder, kidnapping, abduction, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in Hailey's death.(Photo: Enquirer/Albert Cesare)

The jury delivered an unusual verdict, one that remains open to interpretation. They found him innocent of murder, but guilty of felonious assault.

Was the jury convicting Arnold of beating Hailey, but not murdering her? Or were they saying his inaction rose to the level of assault? Metz said it could be either.

At the sentencing hearing, Metz delivered the maximum sentences for each charge and told Arnold he could not serve them at the same time.

Metz added that the 17-year sentence will begin after he completes the sentence for selling heroin. Arnold will remain in prison until about 2030.

He said Arnold's 13 prior felony convictions and he repeated stints in jail, in part, justified the maximum sentences.

Arnold didn't say much to the judge to plead for fewer years in prison.

"I made a mistake," Arnold said. "The only thing I'm guilty of is not getting medical attention [for Hailey]."

Hailey's friend summed up her feelings when she spoke to court asking for a maximum sentence.

"William Arnold beat the system again," she said. "This will never stop."

While the sentence is set, Metz still needs to decide whether Arnold must register a violent child offender after his release from prison. Arnold has 30 days to appeal his conviction or his sentence.